Journal of Asia Pacific Aesthetic Sciences

Mohd Haziq Mohd Firdauz, Fatin Amira Hazwani Mohamad Yusof, Muhd Hafizuddin Taufik Ramli, Wan Dalila Wan Hazmy, Abiramee Ramalingam, Muhammad Farhan Abdul Rashid, Adibah Hanim Ismail

Abstract: Melasma is a skin condition typically occurring in the Asian population amongst the middle-aged group. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oral tranexamic acid and topical hydroquinone combination therapy, monotherapy with the 1064nm Q-switched Nd: YAG laser, and the combination of both therapies in treating melasma among Malaysian males and females with Fitzpatrick skin types III-IV. A quasi-experimental, unblinded study was done among 30 participants. Participants were divided into three groups and treated over three months. Group 1 received oral Tranexamic acid with 4% topical hydroquinone; Group 2 was treated with laser only, and Group 3 was treated with a combination of those three modalities. The researcher collected the modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) score and image pigmentation score using the JANUS-III machine at each follow-up. The mean mMASI score was 4.80 ± 3.17 for Group 1, 4.96 ± 2.10 for Group 2, and 7.43 ± 4.15 for Group 3. Meanwhile, the mean UV spot for Group 1 was -1.22 ± 16.75, 2.09 ± 11.03 for Group 2 and -11.27 ± 5.83 for Group 3 respectively. The mean PL spots were 12.00 ± 12.073 for Group 1, 21.82 ± 10.19 for Group 2 and 9.36 ± 7.88 for Group 3. Both mean mMASI score and mean UV spot showed significant improvement after three months of treatment with a p-value <0.05. The study found that 1064nm Q-switched Nd: YAG laser monotherapy is a better treatment in treating melasma among Malaysian with Fitzpatrick skin types III-IV.